By James Innocent
Local traders in Yei River County say high transport costs and currency fluctuations continue to affect their businesses and access to rural markets, despite a decline in the prices of some food commodities.
Dawa Betty, a vegetable trader in Yei, said the high cost of transportation has made it difficult for traders to travel to rural markets to purchase or sell agricultural produce.
She said prices of some food items in Mugwo Payam, like maize, have fallen from about 35,000 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) to 15,000 SSP for 10 kilograms, while the same quantity is sold for around 20,000 SSP in Yei’s local market.
Betty said the lower commodity prices could benefit consumers, but high transportation expenses continue to place pressure on traders and their profit margins.
Lazorus Abraham, a Kenyan trader operating in Yei, said economic conditions have become more difficult in 2026 compared with 2025, citing fluctuations in the exchange rate.
According to Abraham, the dollar exchange rate in the market has risen from around 400,000 SSP to 750,000 SSP, which he said has increased the cost of doing business and made it harder for traders to meet their daily needs.
However, exchange rates and commodity prices can vary between markets and over time, making direct comparisons dependent on the specific period and market conditions.
Yei River County has long been regarded by national authorities as an important agricultural and food-producing area in South Sudan.
During an earlier visit to the area, Vice President for the Economic Cluster Dr James Wani Igga described Yei as a food basket of South Sudan and encouraged farmers to continue investing in agriculture despite challenges facing the sector.
Local leaders have also repeatedly called for improved road infrastructure to support agricultural production, trade, and movement between Yei and other parts of the country.
Paramount Chief of Yei River County Joseph Brown Lo-Mose has urged the national government to prioritise the construction and rehabilitation of the Juba–Yei–Kaya road, saying better road connectivity would facilitate the movement of people and goods.
Lo-Mose also highlighted Yei’s historical significance in South Sudan’s liberation struggle, saying many people from the area participated in the struggle for independence.
The concerns raised by traders and community leaders point to the wider challenges facing commerce and agriculture in Yei, where transport infrastructure, exchange-rate instability and access to markets remain important factors affecting food trade and household livelihoods.